Kathleen at Lakeland: Coaches Downplay Streak, Focus on 7A-5 District Title

Lakeland Coach Bill Castle, left, and Kathleen coach Irving Strickland lead their teams in tonight's game for the Class 7A, District 5 title.

PIERRE DURCHARME (LEFT), ERNST PETERS | THE LEDGER

By AIMEE SACHSTHE LEDGER

Published: Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 11:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 11:05 p.m.

Each year brings new storylines for teams and districts, but it's always the Kathleen-Lakeland game that's the most talked about in the 863.

This year's contest has much more on the line than the Dreadnaughts' much talked about 20-game winning streak against the Red Devils.

With the restructuring of districts, this one is for the Class 7A, District 5 championship. Nothing more, nothing less.

"We're living for right now," Kathleen coach Irving Strickland said Thursday afternoon. "2013."

On the other side of town, Bill Castle echoed Strickland's sentiments as the Dreadnaughts wrapped up their own practice.

"It's all about the next game," Castle said. "And this is the next game."

It's a district many people called the Southeastern Conference of Polk County. But Bartow, Haines City, Ridge Community and George Jenkins all have new coaching staffs this year. That leaves Kathleen and Lakeland. Strickland is in his seventh year at the helm, and Castle has been on the Lakeland sidelines for 38 years.

"The thing is, you can't worry about your past," Castle said. "That's got nothing to do with this year's game."

Castle's Dreadnaughts (9-0, 4-0) have been consistently in the middle of the Top 10 of the Associated Press' Florida High School Football Poll all season.

Injuries were a concern for Lakeland, especially at the start of the season. Senior linebacker Buzz Williams was set back by ankle and knee injuries.

"At first, it was real frustrating," Williams said. "But everything's feeling better every day, so I feel pretty good on the field."

The Red Devils (7-1, 4-0) "boo-booed" all over themselves in their lone loss of the season at First Academy, racking up 160 yards in penalties. The turning point, Strickland said, is when he made his team sit in the locker room for 30 minutes and listen to First Academy celebrate.

"When I came back in, one of the seniors said, 'Coach, this is never going to happen again,'" said Strickland, who was so hot at the time he doesn't remember who it was. "I said, 'Well, prove it.'"

The very next week, Kathleen prevailed in a 45-44, five-overtime victory over Lake Gibson. And then the Red Devils beat Winter Haven in overtime.

Kathleen then went on to beat Bartow, Haines City and George Jenkins to secure a playoff spot.

"We're right where we wanted to be," Strickland said. "And it just so happens we're playing Lakeland High School for the district title. Does that make it any more stressful for us? No. Does it make it any more meaningful to us? The district title is very meaningful, nothing else. For us, one of our goals was to get a playoff spot. We accomplished that. Our next goal is to win a district title, and that's what we're trying to accomplish."

NOTES

Polk County Public Schools released a statement Wednesday regarding enhanced security measures for tonight's game:

"Safety is a top priority for the Polk County School District, particularly when it comes to protecting our students and maintaining a safe environment. In preparation for the Lakeland High/Kathleen High football Game scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1, school administrators in conjunction with law enforcement have partnered to enhance security measures. Fans should expect to see an increased presence of Lakeland Police Department Officers and Polk County Sheriff's Office Deputies at Bryant Stadium. We are anticipating a large number of fans."

<p>Each year brings new storylines for teams and districts, but it's always the Kathleen-Lakeland game that's the most talked about in the 863.</p><p>This year's contest has much more on the line than the Dreadnaughts' much talked about 20-game winning streak against the Red Devils.</p><p>With the restructuring of districts, this one is for the Class 7A, District 5 championship. Nothing more, nothing less.</p><p>"We're living for right now," Kathleen coach Irving Strickland said Thursday afternoon. "2013."</p><p>On the other side of town, Bill Castle echoed Strickland's sentiments as the Dreadnaughts wrapped up their own practice.</p><p>"It's all about the next game," Castle said. "And this is the next game."</p><p>It's a district many people called the Southeastern Conference of Polk County. But Bartow, Haines City, Ridge Community and George Jenkins all have new coaching staffs this year. That leaves Kathleen and Lakeland. Strickland is in his seventh year at the helm, and Castle has been on the Lakeland sidelines for 38 years. </p><p>"The thing is, you can't worry about your past," Castle said. "That's got nothing to do with this year's game."</p><p>Castle's Dreadnaughts (9-0, 4-0) have been consistently in the middle of the Top 10 of the Associated Press' Florida High School Football Poll all season. </p><p>Injuries were a concern for Lakeland, especially at the start of the season. Senior linebacker Buzz Williams was set back by ankle and knee injuries.</p><p>"At first, it was real frustrating," Williams said. "But everything's feeling better every day, so I feel pretty good on the field."</p><p>The Red Devils (7-1, 4-0) "boo-booed" all over themselves in their lone loss of the season at First Academy, racking up 160 yards in penalties. The turning point, Strickland said, is when he made his team sit in the locker room for 30 minutes and listen to First Academy celebrate.</p><p>"When I came back in, one of the seniors said, 'Coach, this is never going to happen again,'" said Strickland, who was so hot at the time he doesn't remember who it was. "I said, 'Well, prove it.'"</p><p>The very next week, Kathleen prevailed in a 45-44, five-overtime victory over Lake Gibson. And then the Red Devils beat Winter Haven in overtime. </p><p>Kathleen then went on to beat Bartow, Haines City and George Jenkins to secure a playoff spot. </p><p>"Everybody's up, loud, looking alive and ready to go," Kathleen linebacker Rashod Whitehead said.</p><p>"We're right where we wanted to be," Strickland said. "And it just so happens we're playing Lakeland High School for the district title. Does that make it any more stressful for us? No. Does it make it any more meaningful to us? The district title is very meaningful, nothing else. For us, one of our goals was to get a playoff spot. We accomplished that. Our next goal is to win a district title, and that's what we're trying to accomplish."</p><p>NOTES</p><p>Polk County Public Schools released a statement Wednesday regarding enhanced security measures for tonight's game:</p><p>"Safety is a top priority for the Polk County School District, particularly when it comes to protecting our students and maintaining a safe environment. In preparation for the Lakeland High/Kathleen High football Game scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1, school administrators in conjunction with law enforcement have partnered to enhance security measures. Fans should expect to see an increased presence of Lakeland Police Department Officers and Polk County Sheriff's Office Deputies at Bryant Stadium. We are anticipating a large number of fans." </p><p>All fans may be subject to searches.</p>